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Holy Balls. The first two Alien movies are amazing.
- Thread starter Ultima_5
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Just finished watching all the DCs for the first time. The only one that was clearly superior was 3 (which I came away with a new appreciation for) .
Alien "DC" has a few snippets I would love to keep but you also lose a thing or two that I really like so it's a wash.
Aliens DC is waaaaay too long. Sentry guns were fun I guess :/
Alien "DC" has a few snippets I would love to keep but you also lose a thing or two that I really like so it's a wash.
Aliens DC is waaaaay too long. Sentry guns were fun I guess :/
Nappuccino
Member
For the record, I'm enjoying this 
HephalumpsAndWoozles
Banned
So I just watched Alien for the first time and it was all sorts of awesome.
The Special Edition doesn't tie it into the Alien mythology anymore, Sculli. The added scene at the beginning with the colony and the ship doesn't do anything the theatrical cut didn't.
SCULLIBUNDO
Banned
That's actually the only scene I would cut from the Special Edition. Forever I've argued that every OTHER addition to the film that the Special Edition includes is what makes it better than the theatrical.
Nappuccino
Member
Including Hudson's dropship speech?
And the rest of the stuff on the colony before the marines arrive?
SCULLIBUNDO
Banned
I've said to cut all the colony stuff before the marines arrive.
Cutting Hudson's drop speech should earn you a one way ticket to hell.
Doesn't Hudson get startled by a rat or something in the special edition, during the initial exploration of the colony? I remember seeing it a few years ago and being annoyed by the fake "boo" scare.
Going to watch Alien (theatrical) tonight in anticipation of Prometheus tomorrow.
But that line is in the theatrical version!
Nappuccino
Member
Ah, I first thought you meant just them discovering the ship since there was some vague-ness to the previous comment.
And that speech is cheesy and horrible, I'm sorry. For me, the less time we spend with the marines, the better.
SCULLIBUNDO
Banned
Doesn't Hudson get startled by a rat or something in the special edition, during the initial exploration of the colony? I remember seeing it a few years ago and being annoyed by the fake "boo" scare.
Going to watch Alien (theatrical) tonight in anticipation of Prometheus tomorrow.
But that line is in the theatrical version!
It's probably better you watch the theatrical version before Prometheus. It will set the character development bar just a little lower. *Guffaw*
Just kidding. Hope you enjoy it.
Melchiah
Member
What was different between them? I don't remember anymore.
SCULLIBUNDO
Banned
The 'I am the ultimate badass' speech, yes.
Freeza Under The Shower
Member
But is it better than Jurrassic Fart?
Okay, sure. But what more then do the scenes you wouldn't want to cut do to tie Aliens into the Alien mythos?
SCULLIBUNDO
Banned
Could you rephrase that into something more comprehensible? No joke. I read that three times and don't want to mistake your question.
Guy says his criticism of Aliens is that it doesn't really gel all that well with Alien's mythology.
You ask him if he saw the SE, implying that the added scenes better tie it into the Alien mythology.
As you're discounting the colony scene, which of the added scenes work to better tie Aliens into the Alien mythos?
Also I'm seeing Prometheus tomorrow on the IMAX I'm well excited I've managed to avoid spoilers so far... except for the Microsoft press conference... dicks...
SCULLIBUNDO
Banned
I'd say the extended opening of the film (with Ripley at the space station) which more closely matches the pace of Alien's opening. But the main thing is the slightly extended opening to the machinations that are happening on the Sulaco before everybody wakes up. It mirrors the tone of the Nostromo's mechanical life rather nicely. I think those little things help to create a bridge from one film to the next before Cameron changes it up.
Despite knowing all the beats, Alien sucks me in hard every time. Every moment is just pitch perfect. I sometimes forget how incredibly haunting and unsettling the entire film is. The minimalistic score is incredibly effective.
We've talked about how you can see the alien when Dallas lowers down a level in the shaft, behind him. But it always gets me how we can see the alien in the shuttle, clearly, several times before it swipes at Ripley. She runs right past it!
I went through Scott's storyboards on the archival disc of the Anthology tonight after watching the film. It's remarkable how many shots were perfectly captured in his drawings, from the framing and composition to the set designs.
I always wished that Parker had fired his flame thrower at the alien near the end, only to find it had no effect, and the alien marched right through it to take him down. It would reveal that Ash's suggestion to use fire on it was just another example of him protecting in - knowing what it was made of - and would lend truth to his later line that it's not something the survivors would be able to kill.
Turns out that was one of the ideas in the story boards - Dallas was to fire on it, and it was to walk straight through the fire unharmed and grab him. Kinda wish that had made it in. Parker too was to try the flame thrower to no effect, rather than his rather foolish demise.
Prometheus tomorrow. Very excited.
We've talked about how you can see the alien when Dallas lowers down a level in the shaft, behind him. But it always gets me how we can see the alien in the shuttle, clearly, several times before it swipes at Ripley. She runs right past it!
I went through Scott's storyboards on the archival disc of the Anthology tonight after watching the film. It's remarkable how many shots were perfectly captured in his drawings, from the framing and composition to the set designs.
I always wished that Parker had fired his flame thrower at the alien near the end, only to find it had no effect, and the alien marched right through it to take him down. It would reveal that Ash's suggestion to use fire on it was just another example of him protecting in - knowing what it was made of - and would lend truth to his later line that it's not something the survivors would be able to kill.
Turns out that was one of the ideas in the story boards - Dallas was to fire on it, and it was to walk straight through the fire unharmed and grab him. Kinda wish that had made it in. Parker too was to try the flame thrower to no effect, rather than his rather foolish demise.
Prometheus tomorrow. Very excited.
God I can't wait to see Prometheus tonight.
That sounds incredible- the xenomorph marching through the flames unharmed with its skin shimmering in the light. That they are so weak in Aliens is such a comedown.
Parker's death has always disappointed me. would have been much better if he had tried the flame thrower to no effect. He is the only one that had a chance to get the jump on the alien and he bum rushes it :/
EDIT: although I always assumed he didn't used the flamethrower because Lambert was too close. Which is why he yells for her to get out of the way. Not from the alien but from his line of fire.
Yeah she was standing in a corner, and the alien had her pinned in it. But Parker could have tried to get its attention - say, fire a blast just to the side, or above it. Instead he runs at a creature he knows has killed others with ease. And Lambert, the genius she is, just stands there while he's killed, waiting her turn (she had two directions to run in). Wonderfully filmed horror sequence, but they are both just bone-headed.
I'm surprised Alien 3 is considered a bad film. I really like Alien 3, I thought it was a fitting end to the series and it kinda played with the paranoia that one of them could have an alien xenomoprh inside of them (though I wish it was expanded on, would love the entire prisoners to be paranoid against each other).
I hated Resurrection with a passion though.
I hated Resurrection with a passion though.
Just saw the first 2.
I LOVED the Aliens. They looked so good. The gory details beat most films these days. However, I absolutely hated how stupid the characters are.
Alien coming towards you? Just stand there.
Alien trying to kill you? Better spend an hour looking for a fucking cat.
Don't want your troops to shoot? Don't explain why.
Get orders not to shoot? Ignore them.
I mean damn.. complete morons. Other than that, awesome movies.
I LOVED the Aliens. They looked so good. The gory details beat most films these days. However, I absolutely hated how stupid the characters are.
Alien coming towards you? Just stand there.
Alien trying to kill you? Better spend an hour looking for a fucking cat.
Don't want your troops to shoot? Don't explain why.
Get orders not to shoot? Ignore them.
I mean damn.. complete morons. Other than that, awesome movies.
Nappuccino
Member
Just watched the AC of Alien 3 for the first time.
I found myself really enjoying the first hour or so. Strangely, it was once people started dying that I stoped caring about what was actually happening.
I kinda wonder what it would have been like had they gone in and retouched a lot of the effects because damn, that xenomorph looked out of place in almost every distant shot it was in.
And the ending was a bit odd "Well, we have some extra guys who are alive so... we're just going to kill them because, why not?"
That all said, I was rather surprised that I ended up liking Aliens more than 3. 3 seems to be more inline with my expectations of the series and most people's biggest complaints didn't bother me (i.e. killing off 2 central characters and lacking characters). Both felt "right" given the themes and setting of the movie. I just wish the action-based scenes were executed better as they weren't all that thrilling to me, for the most part.
So... as it stands Alien>>>>>Prometheus>>Aliens>>Alien3
I found myself really enjoying the first hour or so. Strangely, it was once people started dying that I stoped caring about what was actually happening.
I kinda wonder what it would have been like had they gone in and retouched a lot of the effects because damn, that xenomorph looked out of place in almost every distant shot it was in.
And the ending was a bit odd "Well, we have some extra guys who are alive so... we're just going to kill them because, why not?"
That all said, I was rather surprised that I ended up liking Aliens more than 3. 3 seems to be more inline with my expectations of the series and most people's biggest complaints didn't bother me (i.e. killing off 2 central characters and lacking characters). Both felt "right" given the themes and setting of the movie. I just wish the action-based scenes were executed better as they weren't all that thrilling to me, for the most part.
So... as it stands Alien>>>>>Prometheus>>Aliens>>Alien3
DrForester
Kills Photobucket
Finally sat and watched the Quadrillogy. I think Aliens and Resurrection are the only films I have ever seen all the way through before (and I apparently totally forgot about seeing Resurrection as I forgot how bad it was, and was experiencing the crap anew, until the hybrid showed up and it all came back to me that I'd seen this before)
Alien and Aliens were both great. They have a good story to tell, and they still hold up well. The only thing I'd dock Aliens for is a lack of suspense, and that really just comes from being a sequel and us knowing that the aliens will kill people, facehuggers suck, and people get burned with acid. I really liked the recent SFDebris review of Alien, which brought up just how good the first film was at suspense, and how there's no real indication early on who the hero is. Ripley is presented as just another crew member, and without knowledge of the sequels, it really helped build an atmosphere.
Still good, and the action is great. As said above, the effects aged well, the only part that is kind of starting to show it is the finale because of the slow moving Queen and the Power Suit, but it's so freaking cool, who cares.
Alien 3 - Hey look, it's Lord Tywin and Doctor Who. Movie just sucked, and sucks from the start by the pointless death of two characters, attempting to ruin the Second film. Easily forgettable.
Resurrection - Feel bad to see Joss Whedon's name on it, but hear it went though dozens of rewrites. Only entertaining thing is seeing Brad Dourif at his Brad Dourifiest.
Alien and Aliens were both great. They have a good story to tell, and they still hold up well. The only thing I'd dock Aliens for is a lack of suspense, and that really just comes from being a sequel and us knowing that the aliens will kill people, facehuggers suck, and people get burned with acid. I really liked the recent SFDebris review of Alien, which brought up just how good the first film was at suspense, and how there's no real indication early on who the hero is. Ripley is presented as just another crew member, and without knowledge of the sequels, it really helped build an atmosphere.
Still good, and the action is great. As said above, the effects aged well, the only part that is kind of starting to show it is the finale because of the slow moving Queen and the Power Suit, but it's so freaking cool, who cares.
Alien 3 - Hey look, it's Lord Tywin and Doctor Who. Movie just sucked, and sucks from the start by the pointless death of two characters, attempting to ruin the Second film. Easily forgettable.
Resurrection - Feel bad to see Joss Whedon's name on it, but hear it went though dozens of rewrites. Only entertaining thing is seeing Brad Dourif at his Brad Dourifiest.
RangersFan
Member
LOL, I didn't even see this thread before which was very coincidental considering I just watched Alien 1 and 2 this morning. I had not watched them from beginning to end since I was like 7 or 8. Was quite a different experience this time around as an adult (for the better), was able to actually grasp and understand things I didn't watching it as a child. So funny seeing Hudson Bill Paxton, seeing as how he was undoubtedly by favorite as a kid with his "Game Over, man". Great freaking movies, kind of wish Cameron would stop doing Avatars and do some more sci-fi horror.
How About No
Member
Caught Resurrection on TV yesterday, and haven't seen it in a long while.
It is...a bizarre film, filled to the brim with bizarre directing choices. For example, Ron Perlman doing this weird upside down ladder akimbo fire on the alien below, and then getting up and freaking out at a spider. And then makes an unrelated quip while one of his teammates below is sacrificing himself.
Just...wat.
It is...a bizarre film, filled to the brim with bizarre directing choices. For example, Ron Perlman doing this weird upside down ladder akimbo fire on the alien below, and then getting up and freaking out at a spider. And then makes an unrelated quip while one of his teammates below is sacrificing himself.
Just...wat.
Karsticles
Member
It's almost like people make poor decisions in panic situations...
Ignatz Mouse
Banned
That was my experience watching it in the theater as well. I remember hearing that they changed direction/screenwirter part way through, and I always figures that if they were shooting sequentially, that's where it changed.
Good promising set up, lame payoff.
Nappuccino
Member
Bu-bu-but Wheadon!
This is actually what I liked about the characters in Alien. When you scare yourself by thinking there's something spooky in your house, do you freeze or run around in battle mode? Just like most creatures, you freeze. Where would you run to anyway? The moon?
There are a few panic decisions, sure. But at the end of Alien, they make a number of poor decisions leading up to Parker and Lambert's demise:
1) The three of them split up, even though there is no reason to. They know what the alien can do, and are planning to leave in just seven minutes, but split up anyways.
2) Ripley gets the shuttle only half ready to launch before going to look for the cat, instead of doing what she just agreed to do.
3) Lambert and Parker go to get coolant for the life support, and make an absolute racket in the process, throwing bottles around left and right, rolling them on the floor. Me, I'd try not to ring the dinner bell quite so loudly.
Parker's charge at the alien and Lambert's freeze are kinda sorta understandable.
While Alien is a pretty well made sci-fi horror movie with great atmosphere, I couldn't help getting bored when I re-watched recently. I do think, however, that Alien has aged better than Aliens.
Aliens is awesome and all, but some aspects haven't aged that well like some dialogue and acting. Actually, if there's another Aliens Director's cut with Bill Paxton edited out, it should be fixed.
Aliens is awesome and all, but some aspects haven't aged that well like some dialogue and acting. Actually, if there's another Aliens Director's cut with Bill Paxton edited out, it should be fixed.
Salvor.Hardin
Banned
I don't know man. I found him pretty annoying and lame in my recent re-watch. That's my opinion of course.
Well to me, Bill is the perfect example. I'm sure I thought his acting was awesome back when the movie first released, but now, I find his acting and most of his dialogue pretty lame. I cringed at some of his lines and some of his reactions in the movie and I'm sure that didn't even crossed my mind when I first watched it.
I'm sure I'm in the minority.
I'm the only one here who kinda enjoyed the offbeat tone of Alien resurrection? i know its pretty much hated around here.
in my opinion, i think it has one of the best cinematographies i've ever seen in a movie and the best in the Alien series, the lighting composition coupled with the outstanding gothic-scifi set design makes every frame look like a goddamn artwork, Darius Khondji is the man!
if i were to rank the Alien movies solely on how pretty they look, it would be:
1- Alien resurrection
2- Alien
3- Alien 3
4- Aliens
in my opinion, i think it has one of the best cinematographies i've ever seen in a movie and the best in the Alien series, the lighting composition coupled with the outstanding gothic-scifi set design makes every frame look like a goddamn artwork, Darius Khondji is the man!
if i were to rank the Alien movies solely on how pretty they look, it would be:
1- Alien resurrection
2- Alien
3- Alien 3
4- Aliens
SCULLIBUNDO
Banned
Fucking LOL @ Alien Resurrection looking better than Alien.
Goddamn juniors just never seem to live that junior stigma down.
D.Lo
Member
I don't hate the film, but I wouldn't make it #1 for looks. Equal second with 3 I can go with (Alien #1, Aliens #4, Promethues does not exist to me but would be equal 2nd too).
Canis lupus
Member
The 3rd one was awesome aswel, 4th one was just good.
Yeah, I'm not sure what to say to that. I saw Resurrection like a month or two ago and wasn't blown away by anything, nevermind the cinematography.
Wut. Alien Resurrection has Wal-Mart buy Weyland corp. That already makes it the worst.
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